Mechanical refrigerator



April 10, 1934. A W WEEMS 1,954,3(4

MECHANI CAL REFHIGERATOR Filed Jan. 11, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor `/qllomey April 10, 1934. A. w. WEEMS 1,954,304

MECHANICAL REFRIGERATOR Filed Jan. 11, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /////////////f//f///////f/f/f/f//f Invenior @Z6/#7 W Weawy Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in mechanical refrigerators generally and more particularly to the cooling units thereof and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a refrigerator cooling unit embodying a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts through the medium of which the formation of frost and ice on the cooling surfaces will be prevented and the dehydration of foods placed.

ln the refrigerator will also be prevented.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a refrigerator cooling unit of the aforementioned character which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, efficient and reliable in use, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation'of a mechanical refrigerator equipped with a cooling unit in accordance with the present invention, the door of the refrigerator being in open position to better show the cooling unit.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the cooling unit.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the cooling unit.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the present invention which is illustrated in the drawings comprises a tank l through which the cooling medium circulates in a conventional system including the compressor 14, the highA and low pressure conduits l5 and 16 and the condenser 17, the compressor being operated by an electric motor 18 and controlled responsive to the temperature of the refrigerator by a thermostat 19 and which is provided, as usual, with the compartments 2 for slidably receiving the ice trays 3. The tank 1 is preferably mounted in an upper corner portion of the food compartment 4 of the refrigerator cabinet 5. The compartment 4 is, of course, provided with a hinged door 6.

The tank 1 is provided with a covering 7 of suitable absorbent material which is secured to the tank in any suitable manner. Mounted on top of the tank 1 is a trough 8 for the reception of an anti-freeze liquid of a freezing point lower than any temperature to which it will be subjected in the refrigerator. A wick 9 is placed in the trough 8 and has its ends depending from said trough and contacting with the covering 7.

A drip pan 10 is mounted beneath the tank l for receiving the liquid which falls from the covering 7. A drain pipe 11 extends from the pan 10 to a pump l2 which is located at any desired point, preferably in the lower portion of the refrigerator, and indicated in broken lines in Figure 1 of the drawings. A return pipe 13 extends from the pump l2 and has .its discharge end disposed above the trough 8 for the discharge of the liquid thereinto. The pump 12 may be operatively connected with the compressor 14, thus causing the pump to function only when the com-- presser is functioning.

In operation. the trough 8 is first filled to the desired level with the anti-freeze liquid, which may be a brine or a glycerine solution. The wick 9 conducts the liquid by capillary attraction to the absorbent covering 7 which becomes saturated with the liquid. As the cover 7 is provided on substantially all of the cooling surface of the tank 1 the formation of frost or ice on these surfaces will be prevented and consequently the de-hydration of the air and foods in the compartment 4 of the refrigerator will also be prevented. The excess liquid falls by gravity from the covering 7 into the pan 10 and flows to the pump l2. When the pump 12 is operating the liquid is returned to the trough 8 through the pipe 13v to be used againA As is well known, when the cooling surfaces of a cooling unit become coated with frost and ice, this coating tends to insulate said surfaces, thereby materially reducing the efficiency of the unit by reason of the fact that it is difficult to reduce the temperature in the refrigerator below that of the frost and ice itself. venting the formation of the frost and ice, the cooling unit is permitted to function at its maximum efficiency.

It is believed that the many advantages of a cooling unit constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. Mechanical refrigerator including a refrigerated chamber and a refrigerating system operating intermittently responsive to temperature Thus, by preconditions in said refrigerated chamber, including an evaporating tank in said chamber, and a compressor, and means for supplying a lm of non-freezing liquid to the outer surface of the evaporator, for frost prevention, continuously for periods synchronous with the periods of operation of said compressor.

2. Mechanical refrigerator including a refrigerated chamber and a refrigeratingsystem operating intermittently responsive to temperature conditions in said refrigerated chamber, including an evaporating tank in said chamber, and

a compressor, and means for supplying a film of non-freezing liquid to the outer surface of the evaporator comprising a pump synchronized in its operative period with the periods of said operation, a conduit connected to said pump discharging non-freezing liquid upon said evaporator, and a collecting conduit for returning said liquid to said pump.

3. Mechanical refrigerator including a refrigerated chamber and a refrigerating system operating intermittently responsive to temperature conditions in said refrigerated chamber, including an evaporating tank in said chamber, and a compressor, and means for supplying a film of non-freezing liquid to the outer surface of said evaporator comprising a trough on said evaporator, a pump synchronized in its operative periods with the periods of operation of said compressor, a conduit connected to said conduit for discharging non-freezing liquid into said trough, a collecting conduit for returning the non-freezing liquid to said pump, and means for distributing the over-now from said trough upon the surface of said evaporator.

4. Mechanical refrigerator as claimed in claim 3, including a covering of absorbent material for said evaporator.

5. Mechanical refrigerator including a refrigerated chamber, and a refrigerating system including an evaporator operating intermittently and actuated responsive to temperature conditions in said refrigerated chamber, and means for intermittently supplying a lm of non-freezing liquid to the outer surface of said evaporator synchronous with the active periods thereof for frost prevention.

6. Mechanical refrigerator including a refrig erated chamber, and a refrigerating system including an evaporator operating intermittently and actuated responsive to temperature conditions in the refrigerated chamber, and means responsive to temperature conditions in said refrigerated chamber for intermittently supplying a film of non-freezing liquid to the outer surface of said evaporator during the active periods thereof, for frost prevention.

lALBERT WILLIAMS WEEMS. 

